Nashville Couple Pleads Guilty to COVID Fraud Scheme
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina dated Monday, August 12, 2024, announcing that Joe Lewis Jefferson, 49, of Nashville, North Carolina, pled guilty over the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (NC HOPE) rental assistance program, and faces up to 31 years in prison. It states that on March 27, 2024, his wife, Danyael Davis Jefferson, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to information presented in court, he recruited others to pose as landlords for properties in Eastern North Carolina, submitted NC HOPE applications in their names, and went with them to banks to negotiate the checks and split the proceeds. The release states that at least 44 fraudulent applications resulted in the disbursement of approximately $279,000.
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Full text
Press Release Nashville Couple Pleads Guilty to COVID Fraud Scheme Monday, August 12, 2024 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina RALEIGH , N.C. – Joe Lewis Jefferson, 49, of Nashville, North Carolina, pled guilty for executing a scheme to defraud a program designed to help struggling North Carolinians stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. He faces up to 31 years in prison. On March 27, 2024, Jefferson’s wife, Danyael Davis Jefferson, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for her role in the scheme. According to information presented in court, Jefferson recruited others to falsely pose as landlords for properties located in Eastern North Carolina. In the names of these nominee landlords, Jefferson prepared and submitted fraudulent North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (NC HOPE) loan applications for emergency rental assistance. When the applications were approved, NC HOPE mailed checks to addresses controlled by Jefferson. Jefferson traveled with the nominee landlords to area banks to negotiate the checks and split the proceeds. Jefferson and his co-conspirators were responsible for the submission of at least 44 fraudulent applications for rental assistance, resulting in the disbursement of approximately $279,000. The NC HOPE Program administered federal COVID-19 relief funds and provided emergency rental assistance to North Carolina renters who faced eviction and homelessness during the pandemic. The Program allowed renters to submit an online application to apply for rental assistance. If approved, the Program paid the tenant’s rent, in checks sent directly to the landlord, for up to 15 months of overdue or future rent payments. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II accepted the plea. Sentencing will occur before United States District Judge James C. Dever, II, later this year. The investigation is being conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-00493 . Updated August 12, 2024 Topic Coronavirus Component USAO - North Carolina, Eastern Related Content Press Release Raleigh Basketball Scout and Life Coach Convicted for Obtaining Nearly $300,000 in Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans in Nationwide Scheme RALEIGH, N.C. – Following four days of testimony before a federal jury, a Raleigh man and business owner pled guilty to a Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud, that netted the... November 26, 2024 Press Release Raleigh Man Pleads Guilty to Seven-Figure Fraud Against COVID Relief Program RALEIGH, N.C. – Raleigh businessman Wilson Alfredo Olivera Borda pled guilty to nine counts of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for over $1 million. At sentencing, Olivera faces a... November 25, 2024 Press Release New Bern Man Pleads Guilty for Posing as Landlord to Fraudulently Collect Nearly $150,000 in COVID-19 Rental Assistance October 23, 2024
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